Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jun 25, 2011

LOT 515

John Bittleston - Quarter Striking Coach Watch with Calendar & Diablotine John Bittleston, London No. 1574. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1785. Very fine and rare, large, gilded and paste-set, two-train, quarter-striking, centerseconds, pair-cased coach watch with stop-watch feature, fifth of a second jumping hand and lunar calendar. Accompanied by a fitted morocco box and winding key.

C. Outer: two-body, the bezel and back pierced and engraved with floral decoration, the edge of the bezel with alternating red and white faceted paste stones. Inner: two-body, "bassine", pierced and engraved with flowers and foliage. Gilt dust cover. D. Eccentric, white enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer Arabic minutes, centerseconds with outer seconds ring with Arabic five-seconds numerals, two subsidiary dials for lunar calendar with moon?s age indication and strike/silent, small subsidiary fifth-second jumping hand. Gold beetle and poker hands. M. Fire-gilded, full-plate, fully foliate engraved, English gilded cock pierced and engraved with foliage, fuse and chain for both trains, cylinder escapement, plain steel balance, flat balance spring, overbanking pin on the body of the cylinder staff, diamond endstone, small hack-lever at the edge, striking with two hammers on a bell in the back of the case. Movement and dust-cap signed. Diam. 109 mm.